Head Hunters is an album that deserves the immense popularity and praises it has received since its 1973 release. Herbie Hancock has a fantastic discography overall, starting off with his hard bop and post-bop Blue Note releases in the sixties such as the excellent Empyrean Isle but as soon as you hear the bass line, guitar licks, and overall theme of the incredible "Chameleon", it's extremely obvious why this is his most popular album. In short, Head Hunters is fun, funky, and groovy as hell. "Watermelon Man" is somehow even more infectious than "Chameleon". The track envelops the listener in an addicting aural equivalent of walking through rainforest animal chirps and buzzes and its bassline is fantastic. "Sly" features Hancock and Bennie Maupin freaking out on keys and sax respectively. It almost seems like Maupin's impressive solo was only conceived as a challenge to Hancock, whose impressive playing is the highlight of much of the song's runtime. Head Hunters is a vibrant jazz-funk album that consistently delivers.
